T. Boone Pickens has been putting his fortune to good use, it seems – and he’s certainly putting himself in the limelight. Mr. Pickens supplied $7 million to victims of Katrina. Since then he’s made a huge splash in the green energy debate.

But you may not know that his wife, Madelaine, is passionately involved in conservation efforts. After Katrina, she helped to rescue 800 animals, dogs and cats, and had them flown to Colorado and California for adoptions.

More recently, the wild mustang population has had need for someone’s full attention and Madeleine has once again come up with a plan.

Wild horses have roamed freely in the Southwest since the times of the Spanish conquistadors. Today, the land the wild horses call home is under the supervision of the Bureau of Land Management and is shared with domestic cattle. It’s becoming a bit of a squeeze, as the BLM tries to keep the number of horses in the wild to 27,000 in order to ensure enough food for all the creatures. The rest of the horses are then herded, gathered and sold at auction or adopted.

This year there are 33,000 additional mustangs being held in holding pens at a cost of $1500 a year to feed.  Without people to buy or adopt them, they will be put to sleep.

Why are there so many horses in the wild? Madeleine explains, “They have no natural predators. Their only predator is mankind when we do the wrong thing.”

And, inviting us into her vision, she says, “If all the cattlemen have access to all this BLM land, what if I buy a ranch and I can get access to the BLM land and then we share it. This way, I could create a sanctuary. This way nobody will ever be turned away.”

She’s currently negotiating to buy approximately a million acres. Hey,  Rhode Island  doesn’t even have a million acres!

The ink isn’t dry yet, however. The sanctuary, if all goes well, will open in a year. And to share the glorious sight of the  horses galloping  together with streaming manes and tails, Madeleine is already planning that “there will be Hopi log cabins and little hotels, children will sit outside and we’ll have bonfires. They’ll be educated about the West, about our heritage.”  

You may want to set your vacations plans for a Southwest adventure.

“I can’t wait for the day the first horse is turned loose and you’ll see him kick his heels up and gallop away with this herd together,” says Madelaine. “It’s going to be so beautiful.”

Way to go, Madeleine!  Let them ponies run! 

Source: Washington Post

We hope you’re all having a great holiday weekend.

We want to see our cities overflowing with urban gardens, horizontal and vertical, until our cities are thoroughly home-grown. Over at Wired, Clive Thompson is of a similar mind – except it’s victory gardening that he wants to see as the driving force. (Here’s our Vanessa on the same topic).

"You know you’re a shopaholic if a thief steals all your credit cards and goes on a shopping spree, but when you get your monthly bill it’s the lowest one you’ve had in years." So starts Jeff Yeager’s suggestions for a short fiscal fast, over at Daily Green.

Epsom salts – straight in the bath? That would be a shame, when they’re so good in the garden, in the bathroom or even in your car battery. Reader’s Digest has the know-how.

Here’s a boat journey with a difference – the boat’s made from 15,000 plastic bottles and the remains of a Cessna light aircraft. And somehow it’s seaworthy – as it’s just sailed into Hawaii after travelling 2,000 miles in 3 months, to highlight the plastic pollution fouling our sea-lanes. Read the official blog here. (via Grist).

How well do houseplants purify our air? The people at Little Green Blog have been reading B.C. Wolverton’s book on the subject, and have a few suggestions for us. (via Hippyshopper).

However much we love innovative eco-housing, and however much straw seems a terrific idea as a building material…this strawbale cabin gets our "huh?" award for the week. (Let’s hope it’s meant to be Art as opposed to Architecture).

Sea glass pushes our buttons – especially when it’s combined with recycled silver and turned into sea glass jewelry like this, over at Cornwall’s Glasswing. (via Alternative Consumer).

However much you trim down your energy usage, there’s only so far you can go if your gadgets are thirsty for electricity. That’s the challenge for traditional desktop computers (pushed into the shade by energy-efficient laptops)…and Akhter have met it, with the LoCO2 desktop PC. Energy usage: less than a traditional 60W light bulb, they claim!

So planes get turned into rafts (see above) – but what else could they be used for? Eco footwear company Worn Again hit upon the natty idea of turning old Virgin Atlantic airline seat covers into chic bags – and as Smartplanet shows, the results are spectacular. 

Finally, over at Metaefficient the first affordable kinetic motion charger is upon us – and perhaps the start of a very personal solution to our energy problems.

Have a great holiday!

Image: J. Rosario

Don’t miss some of the most popular posts from this week:

If you’ve got 5 minutes and a bar of soap, you’ve got eco-friendly laundry detergent. That gives you plenty of time to determine if your friends think you’re an eco snob – which you may be, considering all the bizarre things you’ve been composting lately!

But it’s not all recycling light bulbs and biodegrading peach pits. Speaking of pits, it’s truly unfortunate that all those "natural" deodorants make you stink. Ever in pursuit of the greater good, underarm protection is one eco sin we’re willing to commit.

And, in our ruthless quest to separate the glitz from the granola, we’ve discovered a gorgeous artisan fashion house that only needs a little sustainable sparkle. Better get that closet organized!

Finally, for those fashionistas on a budget, you don’t always have to buy organic – check out these safe conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables. Just make sure you’re not serving them up with a side of radon.

In FASHION, Allison’s got not one but two eco deals for you: summer gladiator sandals and a pretty red dress.

In DECOR, we want to know if this highly unusual branch chair Tina’s discovered is rustic chic or…rubbish heap. Cast your vote.

In WELLNESS, Sarah’s got the cheek to tell us why we should get a Brazilian bikini wax. I’m a fan. Are you?

In ARTISAN, Tina advises us to avoid the toxic chemicals found in most conventional candles and make our own earth-friendly soy candles instead.

In LIFESTYLE, we’ve got the guide you need to green your SUV. When trading in isn’t an option, and you’re desperate to save on gas, you’ll want these tips.

Thanks for reading EcoSalon this week. Good luck to everyone who entered this week’s newsletter contest – the lucky winner will be announced in next week’s edition. If you haven’t yet signed up for the newsletter, do it now! I always have fun eco goodies to give away. If you’re a new reader, you should sign up to read us via RSS, too.

Allison has the inside track on the Best Green Fashion News in FASHION

Luanne guides you to Stunning Moroccan Treasures in DECOR

Sarah breaks it to you: Your Dentist Already Knows in WELLNESS

Elaine shares a hot new artisan fashion trend (hint: you may need your Get Out of Refashionista Jail Free Card) in ARTISAN

Kim says making love is the new going green: how to have more (eco-friendly) sex in LIFESTYLE

Want more? Start with our most popular posts, or browse other readers’ recent comments, to the right of this post. Have a great day!

Find the space.

This week’s featured photographer: James Jordan

Did you catch every post this week? Here are a few favorites:

from FASHION:

Fine artist and up-and-coming Certaintees designer Lee Tracy stopped in for an interview with yours truly – and gave away a shirt to lucky reader Adelaide! Lee will be popping back in at EcoSalon in June to give away two more shirts, so be sure to check back for updates.

from DECOR:

Eco-friendly lighting is everywhere, starting with high-end Hudson to whimsical mod creations by artist Benjamin Hubert.

from WELLNESS:

Looking for gluten-free alternatives to wheat flour? Or maybe just a tasty seasonal artichoke recipe? Look no further.

from ARTISAN:

Handmade, sustainable wedges are here just in time for summer, thanks to Larkyn’s sleuthing. (U.S.A. made!) Or perhaps you’d rather hatch yourself something green instead?

from LIFESTYLE:

A gorgeous garden requires getting dirty. Bonnie’s got the scoop on sexy soil. Fork play, anyone?

With 40+ posts a week here at EcoSalon, you may not catch every one, so here’s my weekly roundup of popular posts from each blog:

Kim guides you to theBest Eco-Friendly Laptop Bagsin FASHION

You take time to look professional and stylish, only to clutter your look lugging around a frumpy, masculine computer bag. No longer: these laptop carriers are comfortable, stylish and green.

Luanne is Nuts Over Walnut Wallpaper in DECOR

You’ll be nuts about this incredible boutique’s remarkable designs, too. The prints are fresh, beautiful, and timeless; the sources are artisan, eco, vintage and more.

Sarah shares An Easy Way to Green Your Diet in WELLNESS

Going green begins with what you eat. You know salads help you tread more gently (literally). But they can get booooring. Don’t miss these tips to add some flavor to your green routine.

Mike recommends A Mother’s Day Gift to Last All Year in ARTISAN

Not only is this gift inspired, unique and memorable – it’s truly eco-friendly. Even moms who haven’t gone green will love this thoughtful present (and it’s the perfect gentle nudge).

Yours Truly: 13 Last Minute Ways to Celebrate Earth Day in LIFESTYLE

Earth Day is over, but in my opinion, every day is Earth Day. Try my 13 simple green steps that work for any day of the year. What are you waiting for?

There are more great posts! Don’t miss:

Carlie: This versatile ecoKashmere tunic is made from bamboo.
Allison: Deal of the week: a warm vest that’s sweet, not sporty.
Larkyn: Eco baubles from a Boston artist.
Elaine: Manolos for the mindful.
Vanessa: Salmon? No way! Opt for this overlooked seafood.
Tina: Enough faux bois: we’re bringing bois back.
Bonnie: Feeling sluggish? You need the Veggie Vitality cocktail.

What’s your favorite?

I love this photo because to me it says “Yes, this is ridiculous…and there’s nothing you can do about it!”

It reminds me of so many memorable stunts from the indomitable women I am lucky to have in my life. Stasie, a suburban church-going schoolteacher and young wife, running over the arbitrarily placed circle of cones at a concert in calm defiance of stupidity. Apparently she’d just had enough! (I’m pretty sure her husband loved it.) My mother shooing a young rattlesnake out of our Northern California mountain townhome with a broom – unforgettable to my four-year-old eyes because Mom was furious, not frightened. (I honestly believe the animal was terrified of her. The nerve of that silly snake, venturing into her kitchen!) A dear friend’s Southern-bred grandmother – I’m not naming names here, but the one who owns the word “decorous” – stealing a half-bottle of wine she liked from the Sedona country club by tucking it beneath her cashmere wrap. My own grandmother’s escapades are famous (or maybe just infamous, if you believe my grandpa).

Call it “getting in touch with your inner child”, being a little shameless, or just fooling around – kudos to the women, including ourselves, who revel in occasional moments of the ridiculous. I’ll spill mine if you spill yours.

This week’s featured photographer: Riot Jane

With 40+ posts a week here at EcoSalon, you may not catch every one! Here’s my weekly roundup of popular posts from each blog:

Allison finds A Ring for All Moods in FASHION

We adore this agate mood ring that’s chic earth mama, not cheesy 70s relic.

Tina shares A Gentle Guide in Your Home in DECOR

Create Zen-like serenity in your home with a little help from Buddha’s calm countenance.

Vanessa starts The 5 Day Eat-Low-on-the-Food-Chain Challenge in WELLNESS

News pundits toss around the terms "global warming" and "climate crisis" like beach balls, but while they’re bloviating, what  can you actually do to save the planet? Start with your dinner plate.

Elaine spots Artful Adornment from Ananda Khalsa in ARTISAN

Artisan jewelry turned out in paneled bracelets, chunky rings and eye-catching earrings – all painted with sweet little birds. Need I say more?

Vanessa spills 7 Signs of a Green Restaurant (Plus 5 Resources to Find Them!) in LIFESTYLE

Want more? Don’t miss:

Sarah: What to do with old makeup brushes.
Larkyn: The DIY gene: you either have it or you don’t.
Mike: Challenging the silly notion that expensive = value.
Kim: Can women over 25 wear spring’s sexy, silky shorts?
Carlie: Why should the rug underfoot be boring?
Luanne: Not fawning over fauna decor? Not to worry.
Bonnie: Banish insomnia with a grown-up version of warm milk.